MONROE - Anyone thinking Monroe's boys basketball team might overlook Fort Atkinson on Monday with a pivotal game against Stoughton ahead were proven wrong.
Monroe (7-3, 6-0 Badger South) was running on all cylinders in a 66-33 blowout of the Blackhawks to extend its winning streak to four games. The last time the Cheesemakers lost was Dec. 27 to Menomonee Falls.
"I don't worry about a letdown because our practices are so competitive," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That is not a word we have in our vocabulary."
Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff scored the Cheesemakers' first seven points and ignited a 14-3 Monroe run to start the game. Tordoff scored 10 of his game-high 12 points in the first quarter and nailed three 3-pointers.
"The one thing we always say is to feed the fire," Murphy said. "Whoever is hot, we want to get them the next shot."
Tordoff wasn't going to overlook Fort Atkinson even though it has lost 10 in a row.
"I don't think that is a problem with our team," he said. "We always come out to play hard. We always know something is on the line."
Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff, who scored 10 points, drilled a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-5 lead.
Fellow senior Mitch McArdle drained two 3-pointers late in the second quarter to give Monroe a 35-20 halftime lead.
The Cheesemakers held the Blackhawks scoreless for 9 minutes, 13 seconds in the second half and outscored them 22-0 in the third quarter.
Monroe senior Jake Grinnell started the big run, scoring a basket down low, getting fouled and converting the conventional three-point play at the foul line to give the Cheesemakers a 40-20 lead. On the Blackhawks' ensuing possession, Mitch Tordoff stole the ball and drove in for a layup.
"We always talk about the first three minutes of the second half being huge," Murphy said.
"Obviously, our guys took that to heart."
Fort Atkinson (1-10, 0-6) was plagued by miscues. The Cheesemakers' stifling defense forced 17 Blackhawk turnovers, many leading to instant offense.
The spurt continued to snowball as Mitch Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, senior Mike Geiger hit a jumper and sophomore Michael Barrett, who scored 10 points, made a turnaround jumper to give the Cheesemakers a 57-20 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Cheesemakers had no trouble attacking the Blackhawks' 2-3 zone. Murphy said after a game against Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman on Saturday, the team watched film to perfect running zone offenses.
The Cheesemakers had a balanced offensive attack, with Grinnell scoring nine points, McArdle adding eight and senior Cullen Sampson chipping in six.
Murphy said his players' movement against the zone and finding open spaces was quicker.
Bryan Tordoff attributed the efficiency in attacking the zone to better passing.
He said the Cheesemakers came out and wanted to get touches inside, something Murphy preaches.
"We had really good passing tonight and that's why we came out on top," Bryan Tordoff said.
The Cheesemakers host Stoughton on Friday night before traveling to Reedsburg on Saturday in a makeup game from Dec. 19.
Monroe (7-3, 6-0 Badger South) was running on all cylinders in a 66-33 blowout of the Blackhawks to extend its winning streak to four games. The last time the Cheesemakers lost was Dec. 27 to Menomonee Falls.
"I don't worry about a letdown because our practices are so competitive," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That is not a word we have in our vocabulary."
Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff scored the Cheesemakers' first seven points and ignited a 14-3 Monroe run to start the game. Tordoff scored 10 of his game-high 12 points in the first quarter and nailed three 3-pointers.
"The one thing we always say is to feed the fire," Murphy said. "Whoever is hot, we want to get them the next shot."
Tordoff wasn't going to overlook Fort Atkinson even though it has lost 10 in a row.
"I don't think that is a problem with our team," he said. "We always come out to play hard. We always know something is on the line."
Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff, who scored 10 points, drilled a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-5 lead.
Fellow senior Mitch McArdle drained two 3-pointers late in the second quarter to give Monroe a 35-20 halftime lead.
The Cheesemakers held the Blackhawks scoreless for 9 minutes, 13 seconds in the second half and outscored them 22-0 in the third quarter.
Monroe senior Jake Grinnell started the big run, scoring a basket down low, getting fouled and converting the conventional three-point play at the foul line to give the Cheesemakers a 40-20 lead. On the Blackhawks' ensuing possession, Mitch Tordoff stole the ball and drove in for a layup.
"We always talk about the first three minutes of the second half being huge," Murphy said.
"Obviously, our guys took that to heart."
Fort Atkinson (1-10, 0-6) was plagued by miscues. The Cheesemakers' stifling defense forced 17 Blackhawk turnovers, many leading to instant offense.
The spurt continued to snowball as Mitch Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, senior Mike Geiger hit a jumper and sophomore Michael Barrett, who scored 10 points, made a turnaround jumper to give the Cheesemakers a 57-20 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Cheesemakers had no trouble attacking the Blackhawks' 2-3 zone. Murphy said after a game against Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman on Saturday, the team watched film to perfect running zone offenses.
The Cheesemakers had a balanced offensive attack, with Grinnell scoring nine points, McArdle adding eight and senior Cullen Sampson chipping in six.
Murphy said his players' movement against the zone and finding open spaces was quicker.
Bryan Tordoff attributed the efficiency in attacking the zone to better passing.
He said the Cheesemakers came out and wanted to get touches inside, something Murphy preaches.
"We had really good passing tonight and that's why we came out on top," Bryan Tordoff said.
The Cheesemakers host Stoughton on Friday night before traveling to Reedsburg on Saturday in a makeup game from Dec. 19.
